Job Category: Interims

Job location: Civic Campus, Euclid Street, Swindon, SN1 2JG, Swindon Borough Council

Hours per week: 37

Start date: Immediate start

Salary: £52.43 per hour

Job Purpose

Working at system level to advise and influence partners, commissioners, and senior leaders to shape the strategic direction of the prevention and early intervention agenda. Leading a team of Service Leads in the design and delivery of borough-wide services aimed at building community capacity, improving health and wellbeing, and tackling inequality; thereby reducing/delaying demand and costs to public services.

Restricted to:

• Community Safety and Community Safety Partnership
• Live Well Service
• Libraries and Information Service

This role will be integral to galvanising and leading a universal contact model and neighbourhood-based offer which supports people who have the greatest need; providing the right support, in the right place, and at the right time.

Key Accountabilities

• Set medium to long-term priorities for the services, considering wider system pressures, statutory responsibilities, and resourcing; horizon scanning and ensuring programmes are effective, sustainable, and meet demand.
• Lead Service Managers to ensure service level business plans align with corporate plans, translating missions and pledges into tangible actions for managers.
• Lead service development, design, and delivery, ensuring programmes and resources address root causes of demand and health inequalities, especially in areas with high public service demand.
• Oversee the management of integrated community services as part of a future prevention and engagement model for residents, building agile and responsive services focused on improving outcomes.
• Collaborate with internal and external colleagues to optimise local assets, developing an integrated community hub model with prevention and early intervention at its core.
• Influence senior leaders across the Swindon system, partnering with health, police, fire, voluntary, parishes, businesses, and faith sectors for residents' benefit.
• Provide expert advice on prevention, health promotion, volunteering, community development, and engagement to stakeholders, members, and senior leaders.
• Ensure compliance with legislation, business continuity, risk management, safeguarding, and quality assurance across community services and broader corporate areas.
• Build and influence community relationships to gather insight, set priorities, and enhance community capacity.
• Manage all service budgets, maintaining financial balance and reporting against service level agreements.
• Develop and deliver community engagement events like Lets Talk Swindon, ensuring resident voices influence decisions and foster participation.
• Coordinate with partners, including Parish and Town Councils, for effective communication and joint outcomes.

Supplementary Accountabilities

• Deputise for the Director of Communities and Partnerships.
• Strategically plan, manage, and monitor resource use, implementing efficiency savings to meet strategic goals.

Knowledge & Experience

Candidates must demonstrate substantial knowledge and experience in:

• Developing partnerships within the Council and externally.
• Senior management delivering outcomes.
• Driving services and strategic direction with management skills.
• Influencing, problem-solving, and risk management.
• Working with stakeholders including Members, MPs, communities, and understanding complex political environments.
• Advocacy, negotiation, and partnership development at senior levels.
• Securing external funding and creating opportunities.
• Managing complex budgets and teams.
• Delivering national presentations.

Qualifications

Extensive senior management experience in Communities, Public Health, or Community Safety, with qualifications including ILM Leadership Level 5 or similar.

Decision Making

• Developing strategic services aligned with system demands.
• Partnership viability and project development.
• Managing departmental budgets (~£4m).
• Shaping service delivery teams.
• Achieving annual savings and investment decisions.